القراءة بلغتين

وبَلَغَ نِكانورَ أَنَّ أَصْحابَ يَهوذا في نَواحي السَّامِرَة، فعَزَمَ على مُهاجَمَتِهم يَومَ السَّبتِ دونَ التَّعَرُّضِ لِلخَطَر

فقالَ لَه اليَهودُ الَّذينَ رافَقوه مُضطَرِّين: «لا تُهلِكِ القَومَ بِهٰذه القَسوَةِ والبَربَرِيَّة، بَلِ ٱرْعَ حُرمَةَ يَومٍ قد أَكرَمَه وقَدَّسَه الرَّقيبُ على كُلِّ شَيء»

فسَأَلَ ذٰلك الشَّديدُ الفُجورِ هل في السَّماءِ مَلِكٌ أَمَرَ بِحِفْظِ السَّبْت

فقالوا: «إِنَّ الرَّبَّ الحَيَّ والمَلِكَ في السَّماءِ هو الَّذي أَوصى بِحِفظِ اليَومِ السَّابِع»

فقال الرَّجُل: «وأَنا أَيضًا مَلِكٌ في الأَرض، فآمُرُ بِأَخْذِ السِّلاحِ والقِيامِ بِخِدمةِ المَلِك». ولٰكِنَّه لم يَتَمَكَّنْ مِن تَحْقيقِ مَقصِدِه الوَخيم

ورَفَعَ نِكانورُ رأسَه بِزَهْوٍ وصَلَف، وعَزَمَ على نَصْبِ تَذْكارٍ مُشْتَرَكٍ مِن أَسْلابِ يَهوذا وأَصْحابِه

وأَمَّا المَكَّابيُّ فلَم يَزَلْ يَثِقُ كُلَّ الثِّقَةِ ويَأمَلُ كُلَّ الأَمَلِ أَنَّ الرَّبَّ سيُؤْتيه النَّصْر

فحَرَّضَ أَصْحابَه على أَلَّا يَخافوا مِن غارةِ الوَثَنِيِّين، بل يَذكُروا النَّجَداتِ الَّتي طالَ ما أُمِدُّوا بِها مِنَ السَّماء، ويَنتَظِروا الظَّفَرَ الَّذي سيُؤتَونَه الآنَ مِن عِندِ القَدير

ثُمَّ شَدَّدَ عَزائِمَهم بِالشَّريعَةِ والأَنْبِياء، وذَكَّرَهم بِالمَعارِكِ الَّتي قاموا بِها، حَتَّى أَذْكى حَماسَهم

وبَعدَما ٱستَنهَضَ هِمَمَهم، شَرَحَ لَهم كَيْفَ نَقَضَ الوَثَنِيُّونَ عُهودَهم وحَنِثوا بِأَيمانِهم

وسَلَّحَ كُلًّا مِنهم بِتَشْجيعِ كَلامِه الصَّالِح أَكثَرَ مِمَّا سَلَّحَهم بالتُّروسِ والرِّماح. ثُمَّ قَصَّ علَيهم نَوعًا مِنَ الرُّؤيا تَجَلَّت لَه في حُلمٍ جَديرٍ بِأَن يُصَدَّق، فَشَرَحَ بِها صُدورَهم أَجمَعين

وهٰذه هي الرُّؤيا، قال: «رَأَيتُ أُونِيَّا عَظيمَ الكَهَنَةِ السَّابِق، رَجُلَ الخَيْرِ والصَّلاح، المُتواضِعَ المَنظَرِ الحَليمَ الأَخْلاق، صاحِبَ الأَقْوالِ الطَّريفة، المُواظِبَ مُنذُ صِباه على جَميعِ أَعْمالِ الفَضيلة، باسِطًا يَدَيه يُصَلِّي مِن أَجلِ جَماعَةِ اليَهودِ بِأَسرِها

ثُمَّ تراءَى كذٰلِكَ رَجُلٌ كَريمُ المَشيب، أَغَرُّ البَهاء، علَيه جَلالٌ عَجيبٌ سامٍ

فتَكَلَّمَ أُونِيَّا وقال: «هٰذا مُحِبُّ الإِخوَة، المُكثِرُ مِنَ الصَّلَواتِ لِأَجلِ الشَّعْبِ والمَدينَةِ المُقَدَّسَة، إِرْمِيا، نَبِيُّ الله»

ثُمَّ إِنَّ إِرْمِيا مَدَّ يَمينَه وناوَلَ يَهوذا سَيفًا مِن ذَهَبٍ فقال

خذ هذا السيف المقدس هبة من عند الله به تحطم الاعداء

فطابَت قُلوبُهم بِأَقْوالِ يَهوذا الرَّائِعَةِ الَّتي حَرَّكَت بِقُوَّتِها حماسَتَهم وجَعَلَت نُفوسَ الشُّبَّانِ كنُفوسِ الرِّجال، وعَقَدوا عَزمَهم على أَن لا يُعَسكِروا، بل يَهجُموا بِشَجاعةٍ ويَخوضوا المَعرَكَةَ بِكُلِّ بَسالة، حتَّى يَفصِلوا الأَمرَ، بِما أَنَّ المَدينَةَ والأَقْداسَ والهَيكَلَ في خَطَر

وكانَ قَلَقُهم على النِّساءِ والأَولادِ والإِخوَةِ وذَوي القَراباتِ أَخَفَّ وَقْعًا مِن خَوفِهم على الهَيكَلِ المُقَدَّسِ الَّذي كانَ هو الخَوفَ الأَعظَمَ والأَوَّل

وكانَ الباقونَ في المَدينَةِ في قَلَقٍ شَديدٍ في أَمرِ القِتالِ الَّذي كانوا يَتَوَقَّعونَه في العَراء

وبَينَما كانَ الجَميعُ يَنتَظِرونَ ما يَؤُولُ إِلَيه الأَمْر، وقدِ ٱحتَشَدَ العَدُوُّ وٱصطَفَّ الجَيشُ وأُقيمَتِ الأَفْيالُ في مَواضِعِها وٱصطَفَّتِ الفُرْسانُ على الجَناحَين

تَفَرَّسَ المَكَّابِيُّ في كَثرَةِ الجُيوشِ وتَوَفُّرِ الأَسلِحَةِ المُختَلِفَةِ وضَراوَةِ الأَفْيال، فرَفَعَ يَدَيه إِلى السَّماءِ ودَعا الرَّبَّ صانِعَ المُعجِزات، لِعِلمِه أَنْ لَيسَ الظَّفَرُ بِالسِّلاح، ولٰكِنَّه بِقَضائِه يُؤتي الظَّفَرَ مَن يَستَحِقُّه

وصَلَّى قائِلًا: «إِنَّكَ، يا سَيِّدُ، قد أَرسَلتَ مَلاكَكَ في عَهدِ حِزقِيَّا، مَلِكِ يَهوذا، فقَتَلَ مِن جُندِ سَنْحاريبَ مِئَةً وخَمْسَةً وثَمانينَ أَلفًا

والآنَ يا مَلِكَ السَّمَوات، أَرسِلْ مَلاكًا صالِحًا أَمامَنا يُوقِعُ الرُّعبَ والرِّعْدَة

وبِعَظَمةِ ذِراعِكَ لِيُرَوَّعِ الَّذينَ خَرَجوا على شَعبِكَ المُقَدَّسِ مُجَدِّفين». وسَكَتَ بَعدَ هٰذا الكَلام

وكانَ أَصْحابُ نِكانورَ يَتَقَدَّمونَ بِالأَبْواقِ والأَغانِيِّ الحَربِيَّة

فنازَلَهم أَصْحابُ يَهوذا بِالدُّعاءِ والصَّلوات

وفيما هم يُقاتِلونَ بِالأَيدي، كانوا يُصَلُّونَ إِلى اللهِ في قُلوبِهم، فصَرَعوا لا أَقَلَّ مِن خَمْسَةٍ وثَلاثينَ أَلفًا، وهُم في غايَةِ التَّهَلُّلِ مِن ظُهورِ الله

ولَمَّا ٱنتَهَوا مِن هٰذا العَمَل، ورَجَعوا مُبتَهِجين، تَبيَّنوا أَنَّ نِكانورَ صُرِعَ مع سِلاحِه

حينَئِذٍ ٱرتَفَعَتِ الهُتافاتُ وعَمَّتِ البَلبَلَة، وبارَكوا المَلِكَ العَظيمَ بِلِسانِ آبائِهم

ثُمَّ إِنَّ يَهوذا، الَّذي لم يَزَلْ في مُقَدَّمَةِ أَهلِ وَطَنِه، باذِلًا عنهم جَسَدَه ونَفسَه، حافِظًا لِبَني أُمَّتِه المَوَدَّةَ الَّتي كَنَّها لَهم مُنذُ حداثَتِه، أَمَرَ بِقَطْعِ رَأسِ نِكانورَ ويَدِه حتَّى الكَتِف، وحَملَهمَا إِلى أُورَشَليم

ولَمَّا وَصَلَ إِلَيها، دَعا بَني أُمَّتِه وأَقامَ الكَهَنَةَ أَمامَ المَذبَح، وٱستَحضَرَ الَّذينَ في القَلعَة

وأَراهم رَأسَ نِكانورَ القَذِر ويَدَ ذٰلك المُجَدِّفِ الَّتي مَدَّها مُتَكَبِّرًا على بَيتِ القَديرِ المُقَدَّس

ثُمَّ قَطَعَ لِسانَ نِكانورَ الكافِر، وأَمَرَ بِأَن يُقَطَّعَ قِطَعًا ويُطرَحَ إِلى الطُّيور وتُعَلَّقَ أُجرَةُ ذٰلك الأَحمَقِ تُجاهَ الهَيكل

وكانوا جميعًا يَرفَعونَ إِلى السَّماءِ بَرَكاتٍ إِلى الرَّبِّ الَّذي تَجَلَّى ويَقولون: «تَبارَكَ الَّذي حَفِظَ مَكانَه المُقَدَّسَ مُنَزَّهًا عن كُلِّ دَنَس»

ورَبَطَ يَهوذا رَأسَ نِكانورَ على القَلعَة، لِيَكونَ دَليلًا بَيِّنًا مَنْظورًا على نَجدَةِ الرَّبّ

ثُمَّ فَرَضوا جَميعًا بِٱقتِراعٍ عامٍّ أَن لا يُترَكَ ذٰلك اليَومُ بِدونِ ٱحتِفال، بل يَكونُ عيدًا، وهو اليَومُ الثَّالِثَ عَشَرَ مِنَ الشَّهرِ الثَّاني عَشَر، الَّذي يُقالُ لَه آذارُ بِلِسانِ أَرام، قَبلَ يَومِ مَرْدَكايَ بِيَومٍ واحِد

هٰذا ما تَمَّ مِن أَمرِ نِكانور. وبِما أَنَّه مُنذُ تِلكَ الأَيَّامِ بَقِيَتِ المَدينَةُ في حَوزَةِ العِبْرانِيِّين، فأَنا أَيضًا أَجعَلُ هُنا خاتِمَةَ كَلامي

فإِن كُنتُ قد أَحسَنتُ التَّأليفَ ووُفِّقتُ مِنه، فذٰلك ما كُنتُ أَتَمَنَّى. وإِن كانَ ضَعيفًا ودونَ الوَسَط، فإِنِّي قد بَذَلْتُ وُسْعي

وكَما أَنَّ شُربَ الخَمرِ وَحدَها أَو شُربَ الماءِ وَحدَه مُضِرٌّ، وإِنَّما تَطيبُ الخَمرُ مَمْزوجَةً بِالماء وتُعْطي لَذَّةً وطَرَبًا، كذٰلك تَنْميقُ الكَلامِ يُطرِبُ مَسامِعَ مُطالِعي السِّفر. إِنتَهى

But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the region of Samaria, resolved to attack them with complete safety on the day of rest.

When the Jews who were compelled to follow him said, “Don’t destroy so savagely and barbarously, but give due glory to the day which he who sees all things has honored and hallowed above other days.”

Then the thrice-accursed wretch asked if there were a Sovereign in heaven who had commanded to keep the Sabbath day.

When they declared, “There is the Lord, living himself as Sovereign in heaven, who told us observe the seventh day.”

He replied, “I also am a sovereign on the earth, who commands you to take up weapons and execute the king’s business.” Nevertheless he didn’t prevail to execute his cruel plan.

And Nicanor, in his utter boastfulness and arrogance, had determined to set up a monument of complete victory over Judas and all those who were with him.

But Maccabaeus still trusted unceasingly, with all hope that he should obtain help from the Lord.

He exhorted his company not to be fearful at the assault of the heathen, but keeping in mind the help which in former times they had often received from heaven, so now also to look for the victory which would come to them from the Almighty,

and encouraging them out of the law and the prophets, and reminding them of the conflicts that they had won, he made them more eager.

And when he had aroused their courage, he gave them orders, at the same time pointing out the faithlessness of the heathen and their breach of their oaths.

Arming each one of them, not so much with the sure defense of shields and spears as with the encouragement of good words, and moreover relating to them a dream worthy to be believed, he made them all exceedingly glad.

The vision of that dream was this: Onias, he who had been high priest, a noble and good man, modest in bearing, yet gentle in manner and well-spoken, and trained from a child in all points of virtue, with outstretched hands invoking blessings on the whole body of the Jews.

Then he saw a man appear, of venerable age and exceeding glory, and the dignity around him was wonderful and most majestic.

Onias answered and said, “This is the lover of the kindred, he who prays much for the people and the holy city: Jeremiah the prophet of God.

Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and delivered to Judas a gold sword, and in giving it addressed him thus:

“Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with which you shall strike down the adversaries.”

Being encouraged by the words of Judas, which were noble and effective, and able to incite to virtue and to stir the souls of the young to manly courage, they determined not to carry on a campaign, but nobly to bear down upon the enemy, and fighting hand to hand with all courage bring the matter to a conclusion, because the city, the sanctuary, and the temple were in danger.

For their fear for wives and children, and furthermore for family and relatives, was less important to them; but greatest and first was their fear for the consecrated sanctuary.

Also those who were shut up in the city were in no light distress, being troubled because of the encounter in the open country.

When all were now waiting for the decision of the issue, and the enemy had already joined battle, and the army had been set in array, and the elephants brought back to a convenient post, and the cavalry deployed on the flanks,

Maccabaeus, perceiving the presence of the troops, and the various weapons with which they were equipped, and the savageness of the elephants, holding up his hands to heaven called upon the Lord who works wonders, knowing that success comes not by weapons, but that, according to how the Lord judges, he gains the victory for those who are worthy.

And calling upon God, he said this: “You, O Sovereign Lord, sent your angel in the time of King Hezekiah of Judea, and he killed of the army of Sennacherib as many as one hundred eighty-five thousand.

So now also, O Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel before us to bring terror and trembling.

Through the greatness of your arm let them be stricken with dismay who with blasphemy have come here against your holy people.” As he finished these words,

Nicanor and his company advanced with trumpets and victory songs;

but Judas and his company joined battle with the enemy with invocation and prayers.

Fighting with their hands and praying to God with their hearts, they killed no less than thirty-five thousand men, being made exceedingly glad by the manifestation of God.

When the engagement was over and they were returning again with joy, they recognized Nicanor lying dead in full armor.

Then there was shouting and noise, and they blessed the Sovereign Lord in the language of their ancestors.

He who in all things was in body and soul the foremost champion of his fellow citizens, he who kept through life the good will of his youth toward his countrymen, ordered that Nicanor’s head be cut off with his hand and arm, and that they be brought to Jerusalem.

When he had arrived there and had called his countrymen together and set the priests before the altar, he sent for those who were in the citadel.

Showing the head of the vile Nicanor and the hand of that profane man, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy house of the Almighty,

and cutting out the tongue of the impious Nicanor, he said that he would give it in pieces to the birds, and hang up these rewards of his folly near the sanctuary.

They all, looking up to heaven, blessed the Lord who had manifested himself, saying, “Blessed is he who has preserved his own place undefiled!”

He hung Nicanor’s head and shoulder from the citadel, a clear sign evident to all of the help of the Lord.

They all ordained with a common decree to in no way let this day pass undistinguished, but to mark with honor the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (it is called Adar in the Syrian language), the day before the day of Mordecai.

This then having been the account of the attempt of Nicanor, and the city having from those times been held by the Hebrews, I also will here make an end of my book.

If I have written well and to the point in my story, this is what I myself desired; but if its poorly done and mediocre, this is the best I could do.

For as it is distasteful to drink wine alone and likewise to drink water alone, while the mingling of wine with water at once gives full pleasantness to the flavor; so also the fashioning of the language delights the ears of those who read the story. Here is the end.